1.Basic information – What constitutes tropical rainforests, where they are found, what is their extent (how much of the globe they occupy), what is in them.
Definition - Forests with certain amount of rainfall.
Found near the equator (Brazil, Southeast Asia ...) between Tropic of Capricorn and Tropic of Cancer
Currently occupies 6% of land area. Originally 14%
50% of of world's biodiversity found inside them
2.Their uses – what part they play in ecology or the environment, what uses they have for Man.
Helps prevent soil erosion
Medicines discovered from rainforest plants
Tropical medicine men have possible natural cures to diseases (examples)
Source of food (Maize, rice, Cocoa, fruits, vanilla, coffee...)
Resource (timber, rubber, paper...)
Supply of fresh water
40% of oxygen made by rainforests
Home to many animals, many undiscovered (cite number)
3.The rate and extent of their destruction
40% of rainforests in SE Asia and Latin America has been lost
1.5 acres (units) lost every second (verify)
30 millions removed every year for just newspapers
4.What would possibly happen if they are gone
Soil erosion - desertification, floods, landslides, infertile land
Less oxygen (lungs of the world) - living things needs oxygen - have trouble respiring
Carbon dioxide levels increase - global warming - raising sea levels
Loss of indigenous tribes - loss of knowledge of forests, culture and tradition
Disruption of water cycle, and loss of fresh water
Loss of biodiversity
Burning of forests lead to haze - breathing difficulties
5.Why we must act now
Extinction of species already occurring
Arable land is actually shrinking - food shortage
137 plants/animal/insects lost daily
6.What actions we can take
To conserve / restore the rainforests (if they can be saved, if not, how we can stop the destruction)
Plant trees on land already cut down - (Reduce wind erosion, reforestation)
What impact that has on our lives, and how we can/must adjust to it
Limit amount of beef - a lot of forests cleared to rear cows.
How, as a student, we can do our part
Reduce use of rainforest products - use handkerchief instead of tissue
Print on both sides of paper, use rough paper
Teach others about the environment and how we can save it.
1. Basic information – What constitutes tropical rainforests, where they are found, what is their extent (how much of the globe they occupy), what is in them.
Definition - Forests with certain amount of rainfall.
Found near the equator (Brazil, Southeast Asia ...) between Tropic of Capricorn and Tropic of Cancer
Currently occupies 6% of land area. Originally 14%
50% of of world's biodiversity found inside them
2. Their uses – what part they play in ecology or the environment, what uses they have for Man.
Helps prevent soil erosion
Medicines discovered from rainforest plants
Tropical medicine men have possible natural cures to diseases (examples)
Source of food (Maize, rice, Cocoa, fruits, vanilla, coffee...)
Resource (timber, rubber, paper...)
Supply of fresh water
40% of oxygen made by rainforests
Home to many animals, many undiscovered (cite number)
3. The rate and extent of their destruction
40% of rainforests in SE Asia and Latin America has been lost
1.5 acres (units) lost every second (verify)
30 millions removed every year for just newspapers
4. What would possibly happen if they are gone
Soil erosion - desertification, floods, landslides, infertile land
Less oxygen (lungs of the world) - living things needs oxygen - have trouble respiring
Carbon dioxide levels increase - global warming - raising sea levels
Loss of indigenous tribes - loss of knowledge of forests, culture and tradition
Disruption of water cycle, and loss of fresh water
Loss of biodiversity
Burning of forests lead to haze - breathing difficulties
5. Why we must act now
Extinction of species already occurring
Arable land is actually shrinking - food shortage
137 plants/animal/insects lost daily
6. What actions we can take
- To conserve / restore the rainforests (if they can be saved, if not, how we can stop the destruction)
Plant trees on land already cut down - (Reduce wind erosion, reforestation)Limit amount of beef - a lot of forests cleared to rear cows.
Reduce use of rainforest products - use handkerchief instead of tissue
Print on both sides of paper, use rough paper
Teach others about the environment and how we can save it.